Genesis 26:7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister, for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she was fair to look upon.
Like father, like son. In a similar circumstance, Isaac repeats the unbelief of his father Abraham some years ago. Isaac was in Gerar because of famine, and he was afraid of the men of the place, that they would kill him in order take his beautiful wife. Like Sarah, Rebekah was put in jeopardy, but more importantly, the Covenant Promise of God was put in jeopardy. Isaac wavered in unbelief. He lied to save his own skin. If he had fully believed God would keep His promise, he wouldn’t have had to resort to sin. But he doubted.
Isaac was a solid and true believer, for the Bible mentions the ”Fear of Isaac,” which means his faith in God. Hebrews lists Isaac among the heroes of faith [11:20]. Yet in this fearful situation he lied and sinned in doubt and unbelief. He feared (was afraid of) man more than he feared (believed) God. Jesus says, ”Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear Him.” He did not fear, love, and trust in God above things.
If this could happen to Abraham and Isaac, the heroes of faith, it can happen to us. We also believe and are saved, no doubt about it; yet fear of man, sin, doubt and unbelief remains. We confess, ”I believe; help my unbelief.” Proper fear of God overcomes and replaces fear of man. Though we waver when push comes to shove, the Lord will work us through the doubts and we emerge stronger. This is because God is good, loves us, and is faithful to His promise.
Because God is faithful, He blessed Isaac and made him very wealthy, so much so that the Philistines sent him back to his land, where he belonged. Though we fail, Jesus never fails.